Malcolm-Jamal Warner's daughter, 8, was saved by surfer as actor drowned after being swept by rip current

PUERTO VIEJO, COSTA RICA: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the Emmy-nominated actor best known for his role as Theodore "Theo" Huxtable on ‘The Cosby Show’, tragically drowned on Sunday, July 20, while swimming with his eight-year-old daughter off the coast of Costa Rica. He was 54.

According to Costa Rican police and ABC News, Warner and his daughter were caught in a dangerous rip current at Playa Grande, a beach known among surfers for its powerful waves.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's daughter was saved by a surfer 

Police said a group of surfers jumped into action after witnessing the actor and his daughter caught in a powerful rip current and visibly "struggling" in the water. According to law enforcement speaking to ABC News, one surfer "used his board to bring Warner's daughter to safety and a volunteer lifeguard pulled Warner and another surfer to shore." 

Despite emergency CPR efforts that lasted 45 minutes, the actor could not be revived. His death was officially confirmed by the Costa Rican Red Cross and listed as asphyxiation due to submersion.

Warner’s body was transported to San Joaquin de Flores for an autopsy and has since been released to his family. According to TMZ, arrangements are being made to fly his remains back to Los Angeles by Friday morning, with assistance from the US Embassy.

Warner rose to fame in the 1980s as the wisecracking yet lovable Theo Huxtable on NBC’s ‘The Cosby Show’, earning an Emmy nomination in 1986. He later starred in ‘Malcolm & Eddie’ and took on a number of roles in both television and films.

Police have now clarified details surrounding the circumstances of Warner’s death, countering initial media reports that suggested his daughter was with him in the water when tragedy struck.

Contrary to earlier reports, Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed to People on Friday that Warner’s daughter was not in the water when he drowned. “Mr Warner was playing with his daughter at the seashore at one point. He then left her out of the water, and he and a friend of his entered the sea,” police said in a statement translated from Spanish to English.

“It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out,” the statement continued, adding, “However, Mr Warner was unable to get out and was pulled out by several people on the beach. He received care from Red Cross officials, but was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Safety concerns raised following Malcolm-Jamal Warner's drowning death

Following the heartbreaking accident, Costa Rica’s volunteer lifeguard organization, Caribbean Guard, released a public statement expressing sorrow and calling attention to the challenges they face in monitoring local beaches.

They confirmed that lifeguards were not stationed at Playa Grande at the time of Warner’s drowning, having been redeployed to nearby Playa Negra and Chiquita beaches due to recent incidents and limited resources.

“We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at Playa Grande. He was swept away by a strong rip current and died by drowning. It all happened very quickly, and although there were people on the beach who entered the water to rescue him, they did not arrive in time. He was pulled from underwater without vital signs, and despite CPR maneuvers being performed on the beach, resuscitation was unsuccessful,” a statement read. 

They also noted that Playa Grande, while popular among experienced surfers, is “one of the most challenging beaches” in the region.

The statement also mentioned that warning signs in both Spanish and English had been placed along the beach, cautioning visitors about the risk of drowning. The Caribbean Guard acknowledged having patrolled the area “over the past few years,” though they were not present at the time of Warner’s death.

“Due to recent aquatic incidents in Playa Negra, we had redirected resources there and to Chiquita, another iconic beach known for its strong currents,” the statement explained.

Warner was reportedly in Costa Rica with his daughter as part of a homeschooling program. His wife was not in the country at the time and was informed of the tragedy by phone. 

The actor, who preferred to keep his private life out of the spotlight, never publicly revealed his daughter’s name or birthdate, and kept his wife’s identity private.